About Us
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal is California’s public health insurance program for low-income individuals who are not covered under private or employer-sponsored insurance plans. Alameda County Medi-Cal recipients have a choice between two Medi-Cal Managed Care plans: Alameda Alliance for Health or Blue Cross.
How and Where to Apply
- Apply in-person at an Alameda County Social Services Agency Office.
- Call 510-COVER-US to request that a Medi-Cal application be mailed to you at home, or to start an application over the phone.
- Check your eligibility and/or apply though Benefits CalWIN at: http://www.mybenefitscalwin.org
- Apply at a community-based health clinic or other community-based Certified Enrollment Entity (locations to be provided when known).
- Call Health Care Services’ Health Insurance Technician Unit at 1-800-422-9495 for enrollment assistance and to find an enrollment location.
- Mental Health clients may call the Behavioral Health Care Health Insurance Technician Help Desk at 1-888-346-0605 to find a county mental health clinic, or search the find a clinic page for Mental Health Services.
- Log in online to Covered California at: http://www.CoveredCA.com
- Foster youth, adoption assistance recipients, SSI recipients, and other Medi-Cal linked program participants, should contact their case worker in order to enroll or verify enrollment in Medi-Cal.
Medi-Cal Services
- Doctor Services
- Vision and Hearing Care
- Hospital Care
- Mental Health
- Emergency Services
- Preventive Care, CHDP Examinations
- Lab Work and Vaccinations
- Approved Prescriptions
- Pregnancy Care
- Dental Care
- Family Planning
- STD Tests and Treatment
What to Expect After Applying
After applying, you will be able to choose one of two Managed Care Health Plans through Health Care Options: Alameda Alliance for Health or Blue Cross, then choose a doctor or location as your Primary Care Provider. After April 2014, you will be able to choose a Managed Care plan as a part of the application process. If you are approved for Medi-Cal, the Department of Health Care Services will mail you a temporary Medi-Cal Beneficiary Identification Card (BIC). If you are approved and had Medi-Cal in the past, your BIC will be reactivated. You may discard the temporary Medi-Cal card upon receiving a permanent card from the managed care plan. Clients receive both a BIC card and a health insurance card from their Medi-Cal Managed Care provider (Alliance or Blue Cross). Click here to see samples of Health Insurance Identification Cards.
Cost and Payment
- No Cost if below 138% FPL.
- May have Share of Cost if above 138% FPL.
- If your income is above 250% FPL, you may be ineligible for certain Medi-Cal programs (i.e., Targeted Low-Income Children’s Program; Working Disabled)
More Information
For more information on Medi-Cal, please click here.
Next Section: Covered California